A ceremony was held in the central province of Quang Tri in the evening of September 14 to mark 45 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated zone in southern Vietnam.

Addressing the event, Tran Quoc Vuong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat, said Fidel’s trip to the liberated zone brought solidarity and valuable support of Cuban people to Vietnam.

His presence in the zone amidst dangers and hardships was a great source of encouragement to southern residents and soldiers, as well as Vietnamese people during the anti-US resistance war, the official said.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam will always keep in mind the sentiments of Cuba and international friends to the country both in the past and at present, he affirmed, expressing their determination to work together with their Cuban counterparts to preserve and cultivate the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Vietnam always stands side by side with Cuba and supports Cuban people’s just cause, Vuong said.

In his remarks, First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Salvado Valdes Mesa recalled Fidel’s historic visit 45 years ago and his appeal to Cuban people to support Vietnam’s national reconstruction.

Cuba will never forget Vietnam’s solidarity, he said, recalling the country’s backing for the lift of economic and trade embargo imposed on Cuba by the US.

He took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on achievements the country has recorded in reform, improving people’s living standards and maintaining national stability.

Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Tri province, said over the past decades, Cuba and Fidel Castro have become a symbol of revolutionary heroism, undaunted spirit and aspiration for freedom and happiness, citing the Cuban leader’s statement: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.”

He expressed his wish that the Cuban Party and State will design more cooperation projects with Vietnam and Quang Tri in such potential areas as tourism, health care and education-training.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003.

He was the first foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the anti-US resistance war. He was also a national leader who took the initiative in international movements to support Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process of national development and defence.

With all his great contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.